Read carefully the passages given below and answer the questions that follow
All that could be seen on the station platform at Chainpur was a cloud of confetii. Brigthly **** paper flags danced above bamboo sticks, held by hundreds of excited childen who had come to meet the Jeevan Rekha Express. Then, in a thin monsoon drizzle, the train emerged around the corner, the brass band stuck up and **** clapped, mesmerised, as the carriages, painted with rows of red, yellow and blue daisies, slid into the sliding.
Minutes later, while officials exchanged greetings and garlands, a carriage door opened and the **** clambered on to the train. Still clutching their flags, they peered cautionsly at the three shiny red operating tables, the dials and the anaesthetic machines which had replaced the rows of seats.
The Jeevan Rekha or Lifeline Express, is reportedly the world’* first hospital train, bringing surgical care for the first time to hundreds of remote rural villages.
I joined the train at Kalahari, a tiny coalmining village in a forested area of southern water and electricity supply, although it has its own water filtering machine and a generator to take over during power shortages. The two roomed station building had also to function as a calliper workshop, diagonstic centre, registration area and accommodation for relatives and patients.
Operations have been confined to three areas; orthopaedic surgery for polio, cataract and middle ear operations. Callipers, spectacles and hearing aids are also fitted and eventually the project will be integrated with an immunisation and health education programme.
(a) What purpose does Lifeline Express serve? What is the other name given to it?
(b) How did the **** welcome the train?
(c) What can one find in place of passenger seats in the train?
(d) What function does the station building perform?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as :
(i) fascinated;
(ii) holding something tightly.
